Everyone saw Machel Montano pumping his fists and flag in the air and with a victorious smile took three titles and created history for Carnival 2012. Machel is the face of the HD Camp but there are many forces that come together to make Machel the sensation that he is today. Take for instance the Power Soca and Road March winning song - "Pump Yuh Flag". Of course there is a story behind it as there are stories behind every song written but what is so special about this one? Well it is the song that nearly wasn't!
Recently Machel Montano and Kernal Roberts (the man behind the music) spoke about a song titled Pump Yuh Fist... well not really a song but a jingle composed by Kernal Roberts to be used as part of an advertising campaign by a major company in Trinidad. Guess what... it was rejected by the company but Kernal Roberts saw the future and though that something good could come from the jingle... they worked on it and "Pump Yuh Fist" became "Pump Yuh Flag". Kernal saw the light at the end of the tunnel - he envisioned the people going crazy to the hook of "pump yuh flag". The hype was in place but the lyrics had to have something to move the crowd and still have meaning with mass appeal. Team work accomplished their goal and Pump Yuh Flag helped create the trilogy history!
So what is "Pump YUh Flag" all about? What is the hype behind the song. Well in my humble opinion Machel had better songs this year but this one had the hype and the drive of Machel enticing the audience to get involved and 'pump yuh flag'. It was not all about jumping and dancing and encouraging people to have a good time. No, not at all, the song also encouraged people to think and act in a nationalistic manner. If you can recall the Power Soca Monach competition then you will recall Machel bring out Brian Lara, Anya Ayoung Chee and even Calypo Rose on stage with him. He compared the power of 3 colors (National Flag) to the idea and concept of a nationalistic attitude while dancing and enjoying the festivities. Isn't that just brilliant?
The man behind the music is Kernal Roberts and he has already placed his stamp on five Road March hits. He is half way up the hill to catch his father Lord Kitchener who won the title 5 times as a singer/composer of mega hits. It is positive thing to note that Machel gave credit to his team for the goals set and accomplished this year. He plans to share the prize money with that team - excellent!
Machel sounds like a man driven and not someone who is going to slow down anytime soon. The year is young and there are many Carnivals yet to come for 2012... we haven't heard the last of Machel and his team. I guarantee you that he and his team will release new music for these up coming Carnival celebrations. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St.Lucia and Crop Over of course then you have Caribana and Labor Day in Brooklyn followed by Atlantic City, Miami etc.
Love him or hate him (and the HD Crew) they are the ones in control today! OK, Precision Productions will have something to add to the story but those phenomenal guys from 'Down South' have cemented their market value as 'The Baddist'.... Machel knows this and everyone will now be heading 'Down South' to Palmiste for their music. Machel Montano remains the King of Sokah aka Soca... He is the man of the moment and for the detractors he is the King of the Mainstream and Underground Soca Markets.Long live the name of Garfield Blackman aka Lord Shorty for the creation of Soca Music and for giving people like Machel Montano the opportunity of celebrate his works in music and song. Hail to Machel Montano... the King of Soca Music!
Information for this story was sourced from the following news link:
via http://www.guardian.co.tt/
Information for this story was sourced from the following news link: